Gas noisemaker

ABSTRACT

A NOISEMAKER WHICH MAKES ACETYLENE GAS FROM CALCIUM CARBIDE AND EXPLODES THE GAS, WHEN A FUSE IS IGNITED, ALL IN A CARDBOARD, PLASTIC OR OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT TUBE HAVING A CAPTIVE MISSILE OR CAP AT ONE END THAT IS EJECTED AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION.

2, 1971 J. WEBSTER 3,55

GAS NOISEMAKER Filed Jan. 16, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN WEBSTER ATTORNEYS J. WEBSTER GAS NOISEMAKER Feb. 2, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1969 IN VENTOR.

JOHN WEBSTER ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,559,325 GAS NOISEMAKER .lohn Webster, 20566 Debbie Lane, Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Filed Jan. 16, 1969, Ser. No. 791,758 Int. Cl. F ilc 3/02 US. Cl. 42--55 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A noisemaker which makes acetylene gas from calcium carbide and explodes the gas, when a fuse is ignited, all in a cardboard, plastic or other lightweight tube having a captive missile or cap at one end that is ejected at the time of the explosion.

This invention relates to a noisemaker for use on the Fourth of July and other such occasions.

Certain holidays and occasions have traditionally been celebrated with fireworks, including firecrackers and pyrotechnic displays, but the dangerous nature of firecrackers has caused a great many injuries. Some of the larger firecrackers and other noisemakers, which require lighting a short fuse by hand, actually have the explosive potential of a blasting cap. As a result, many regions of the United States and other countries now outlaw firecrackers.

A safer form of explosive noisemaker, long in use, utilizes a well-known method whereby calcium carbide is combined with water in a confined space to produce a concentration of acetylene gas. The gas is ignited, resulting in a noisy explosion with a low explosive force. In the past, devices of this kind have been made in the form of toy cannons or the like, and have usually been ignited by a fiint and striking arm. Such toy cannons have been made of metal or some other heavy, durable material and have been relatively expensive and cumbersome. The main advantage of such devices over other noisemakers has been that ignited acetylene gas lacks the explosive force of ignited gunpowder and other explosive chemicals used in firecrackers and hence is much safer. In addition, such devices are reusable. However, because of the cost, due to a multitude of intricate parts and to an expensive compressed-air carburetor, gas cannons have not been as popular as inexpensive fireworks.

My invention explodes acetylene gas, but it is similar in shape and appearance to a firecracker, and it is ignited by a fuse. The invention is uniquely simple in construction, comprising a hollow cylinder made of cardboard, plastic or some other lightweight, inexpensive material which forms a chamber in which calcium carbide and water are combined, a base cap to which is attached a spike stand, a releasable cover aiding in gas-compression, a fuse holder and a fuse.

An object of this invention is to provide an explosive noisemaker that will compare favorably with firecrackers for noise, excitement, and entertainment while being free from the dangers associated with firecrackers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a noisemaker which can be used repeatedly, instead of being consumed at one use, as is a firecracker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy which will fire a projectile harmlessly.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of some preferred embodiments.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a kit embodying the principles of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of an assembled noisemaker made from the kit of FIG. I and embodying the principles of this invention.

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FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3 3 in FIG. 2, showing a lower portion of the noisemaker, including one form of fuse and fuse holder.

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation, broken in the middle and with a portion shown in section, of a modified form of noisemaker embodying the principles of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of another modified form of noisemaker embodying the principles of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified form of the fuse holder.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in elevation and in section of the top portion of another modified form of the device showing a different form of top closure.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing another modified form of fuse holder.

My invention may be sold in the form of a kit 10, such as is shown in FIG. 1. In a box 11 are a tube 12 containing a supply of calcium carbide, a measuring spoon 14, an instruction booklet 15, a fuse holder 16, a package of fuses 27, a spike 23, and a noisemaker 17. The noisemaker 17 itself comprises a cylinder 18, near the base of which is a fuse hole 19 and an overflow hole 20, a base closure 21 which closes the bottom end of the cylinder 18, and a coupling 22 mounted on the base closure 21 and to which the spike 23 may be attached. The noisemaker 17 also has a releasable missile-like cover 24, which may look like a small cannonball or rubber ball at the top end of the cylinder 18, which is secured to a chain 25 that is attached to the cylinder 18. A small carton 26 may contain a supply of fuses 27.

The cylinder 18, together with its base closure 21, defines a chamber 30 in which gas is evolved and, later, exploded. The cylinder 18 may be made of any inexpensive material such as waterproofed cardboard or plastic, preferably being nondurable and harmless if exploded through misuse. The cylinder 18 may be of any reasonable length and diameter and may be made as a. preformed paper roll or a molded plastic tube. A tube about 24" long and 1%" in diameter is satisfactory, although tube dimensions are not critical. The larger the diameter, the louder the explosion. It may be desirable to decorate the exterior of the cylinder with appropriate art work.

In FIG. 2, the noisemaker 17 of FIG. 1 is shown assembled and ready for operation. The spike 23 may be a nail attached by the coupling 22 and a set screw 31 to the base closure 21, and it may then be pushed into the ground to hold the noisemaker 17 upright. The fuse holder 16 may have a vertical portion 16a that is fastened by pressure-sensitive tape 32 to the outside wall of the cylinder 18, so that the fuse holder proper is in line with the fuse hole 19. The releasable cover 24, which may be a rubber ball, fits snugly into the mouth 33 of the cylinder 18, and this ball 24 is temporarily removed in order to pour some water 34 in the cylinder 18, in the bottom of the chamber 30 (see FIG. 4). If an excess amount of water 34 should be added, it flows out the overflow hole 20. Next, a short, stiff fuse 27 is inserted through the fuse hole 19 into the fuse holder 16, as shown in FIG. 3. Then the spoon 14 may be used to measure the proper amount of calcium carbide from the tube 12 and to drop it into the water 34 through the open end 33.

The cover 24 is then replaced to close the chamber 30 while the water 34 acts on the calcium carbide and acetylene gas is formed. After the calcium carbide hits the water, gas forms and rises up a 24" tube 18 in about three seconds, but the cover 24- prevents the gas from escaping. Except for the small openings 19 and 20, the

gas is confined inside the chamber 30. When sufiicient gas has been formed, usually within to 60 seconds, the noisemaker is ready to be ignited by applying a lighted match to the fuse 27, as shown in FIG. 4. The cover 24, thus, provide for gas compression at this stage. When the burning fuse 27 carries the flame to the gas, an explosion results, and the cover 24 pops out, removing the compression, somewhat like the hole made in a bag that is blown up and popped. The great release of air and gas causes the loud noise and the tighter this release valve or cover 24, the louder the noise. The chain 25 attached between the cylinder 18 and the cover 24 prevents the cover 24 from flying away and becoming lost. The cover 24- also acts as a safety valve, for should an unsafe amount of gas become concentrated in the cylinder 18 before ignition, the cover 24 simply pops open, releasing the gas. If the cover 24 should be intentionally held shut, as by taping it in place, the cylinder 18 may burst upon explosion, but because the cylinder 18 is made of material such as cardboard or plastic, the danger is minimal.

Note, that by providing a large chamber, which captures much air space and can hold more water, I have eliminated the requirement for a compressed air carburetor, which gas cannons have needed in order to function properly.

The fuse holder 16, as shown in FIG. 4, may be a simple metal strip bent in such a way that a short stilf fuse 27 may be inserted through two holes made in the strip. Or, as shown in FIG. 7, a fuseholder 36 may be made from a coil of wire wound to support the fuse 27. Or, as shown in FIG. 9, a tube 52 with a threaded end portion may be held in place by nuts 53 and 54.

Another form of releasable cover 40 is shown in FIG. 5, where it comprises a hollow or solid cork which fits snugly into the mouth 33 of the cylinder 18, and here the cork 40 is shown held to the cylinder 18 by a string 41. FIG. 5 also illustrates a spike 42 that is made as a permanent part of a somewhat different form of base closure member 43. Either the base closure 22 or the base closure 43 may be made of wood, plastic, metal, or other material, and may be attached to cylinder 18 by a suitable waterproof glue. The base closure may also be made as an integral part of the cylinder 18 in one continuous operation, using plastic molding techniques.

FIG. 6 shows another form of cover member, a cap 45 which fits tightly over the mouth 33 of the cylinder 18 and is held by a slack chain 46. A modified form of base closure 47 may be molded or formed to provide a snap ring 48 holding it to the cylinder 18, with a spike 48 riveted to the closure 47.

Another type of top cover is a hinged lid 50 held normally closed by a spring 51, as shown in FIG. 8.

Instead of a measuring spoon and a tube of calcium carbide, a plurality of water soluble packets may be included in the kit 10, each containing a premeasured invention and the preceding description is in no sense intended to be limiting.

I claim:

1. A noisemaking device comprising in combination:

an upright cylinder closed at its bottom end with an overflow hole spaced thereabove and a fuse hole above said overflow hole, and a mouth at the upper end of said cylinder,

a spike stand attached to said closed bottom end,

a fuse holder attached to said tube adjacent said fuse hole,

a fuse supported by said fuse holder,

a releasable cover closing said mouth and defining a chamber, and

cover-retaining means attached with slack from said tube to said cover,

whereby water may be put in the lower end of said cylinder below said overflow hole and calcium carbide added so as to form acetylene gas and the fuse then ignited to produce a harmless explosion.

2. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said fuse holder is a metal strip with holes made therein and bent to accommodate said fuse by inserting the fuse through said holes. 7

3. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said fuse holder comprises a coil of wire through which the fuse is inserted and by which it is held.

4. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said fuse holder is a tubular member having a bore to receive said fuse.

5. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said releasable cover is a sphere fitting snugly into said mouth.

6. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said releasable cover is a frustoconical cork fitting snugly into said mouth.

7. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said releasable cover is a cylindrical cap fitting over said mouth.

8. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said releasable cover is a hinged lid normally held closed by a spring.

9. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said cover-retaining means is a chain.

10. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said cover-retaining means is a string.

11. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said spike stand is detachable from said bottom end of said cylinder.

12. The noisemaking device of claim 1 wherein said spike is a permanent part of said bottom end of said cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,088,606 2/1914 McGinley 10237.52 1,384,366 7/1921 Welch 89-7 1,998,023 4/1935 Peake 42-55 2,754,607 7/1956 Wily 4255 3,280,744 10/1966 Brown 10237.4

ROBERT F. STAHL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 89-7; 102-37.52 

